Button-sewing machine



W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25, m8,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

YINVENTOR ATTORNEY W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 25, I918. v 1 A29, 9 1 9 Patented Sept. 26,1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I 'INVENTOR {BY/7247421 46 v Z0. KTTORNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

s ears r eetc.

"WILLIAM L. BARR-0N, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNQR IQ TEE SING-ER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A COBPORATIQN OF NEW JERSEY. I

nnrron-snwme MACHINE.

Application filed September 25, 1913. Serial no. 255,691.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. BARRON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a new and improved means for sewing on buttons.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a compact, simple and inexpensive machine for tacking, sewing on buttons, etc., more particularly designed for use in laund'ries and other places Where a machine may not be in continuous use and is required to be readily adjustable for sewing two or four-hole buttons of various sizes.

Another object is to provide means for varying the jogging and shifting movement of the work-holder, each ofv which means is self-centering with respectto the needle, permits of a very fine adjustment and requires no tools for the adjustment.

A further object is to support the work holder independently of the cloth-plate, to allow of the ready removal of the latter.

The invention is embodied in a machine which comprises the usual overhanging arm and head carrying a needle and its actuating means, a cloth-plate and a loop-taking means below the cloth-plate. A bracket projects upwardly from the base, and vertically mounted in spaced ears on the bracket and outside the periphery oflthe cloth-plate is a shaft which carries above the cloth-plate a work -holder of the general character. shown in my prior Patent No. 1,093,241, dated April 14, 1914. The .button-clamp or button-positioning means of the workholder is not rigidly secured to the holder, however, but is slidably mounted on a bar which is pivoted on a horizontal axis to the work-holden Any desired button-positioning means may be used instead of the one shown, as this forms no part of the present invention. A lever fulcrumed on said bar is connected to the button-clamp on one side of its fulcrum, and spaced stops on the button-clamp limit the movement of the lever. A wedge-shaped part is adjustably mounted on the lever between said stops to vary the throw of said lever and maintain the extremes of shifting movement of the button-clamp central with respect to the needle. Secured to the vertical shaft between the ears on the lug is a split collar formed on a slotted arm. A slide-block is 'adjustably secured to said arm and a link is secured to said block and is connected at its other end to a feed-rocker, one end of which rocker isjournaled on the bracket and the other end of which is actuated by a cam having a one-to-two gear connection with the main-shaft. The lateral oscillation or jogging of the work-holder may be varied by changing the position of the slide-block. The segmental slot in the arm, through which the bolt carried by the link projects, has its center of curvature at the opposite pivotal point of the link. By this construction the needle always remains centrally disposed with respect to the extremes of movement of the work-holder, no matter how these extremes are adjusted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a top.

plan view of the work-holder. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the axis of the main-shaft. Fig. 5 is a rear side elevation of the work-holder and its mounting. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan viewof the workholder. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through the adjusting lever of the button-clamp. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the means for varying the jogglng movement of the work-holder. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1(l10 of Fig. 3. Fig.11 is an end view of the spool-holder and its support. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the hinged spool-support, and Fig. 13 is a development of the actuating cam.

In the drawings 1 is the base of a machine having the overhanging arm 2 and head 3. The needle t is secured to a needle-bar 5 driven by a rock-shaft 6 connected to a pitman 7 driven by a crank 8 on the main-shaft 9. A cloth-plate 10 is removably secured to the base, as by screwsor in any other desired manner. A looper 11 is mounted on the main-shaft. A bracket 12 is secured to the base and at one end of said bracket spaced ears or lugs 13 project, a rock-shaft 14 being disposed vertically in said ears. The workholder is supported on the shaft 14 by a bar 15 rigid with said shaft, and to .the forward end of said bar the work-supporting plate 16 is secured, the latter having a needleopening 16. A bar 17 is formed with an upwardly projecting tongue 17 and has a depending lug 18 which is pivoted on a horizontal axis to an upward extension 19 of the bar 15. An upper button-clamp supporting bar 20 is slidably mounted on the bar 17 and has a groove 20 into which the tongue 17 fits (Fig. 5). The bar 20 is held on bar 17 by a plate 21 and securing screws 22 passing through said plate and into an upper extension of thetongue 17 fitting into the slot 23 in bar 20. The bar 20 and its supported button-clamp are longitudinally shifted by a lever 24 fulcrumed on the plate 21 by a screw 25, the outer end of the lever having a slot 26 through which passes a screw 27 secured to the bar 20. Stop-pins 28 projecting from the bar 20 on each side of the lever 24 limit the movement of the latter in either direction. Means are provided for varying the throw of lever 24, said means comprising a wedge-shaped plate 29 slidably secured to the lever by a screw 30 passing through a slot 31 in the plate and threaded into the lever v( Fig. 7). The free end of lever 24 has an upturned portion 32 and the corresponding end of the plate 29 has an upturned portion 33. A thumb-screw 34 is rotatably secured in the portion 32 and screw-threaded into the portion 33, a lock-nut 35 being provided for securing the screw 34 in adjusted position. It will be seen that by rotatlon of the screw 34 the plate 29 may be advanced or retracted between the stop-pins 28 to variably limit the throw of lever 24. Pivotally attached to the bar 20 by screws 36 are the usual button-clampin levers 37, the downwardly bent forward ends ofwhich areturned inwardly and notched to hold a button 38. The levers 37 carry downwardly projecting pins 39 which enter the rearwardly converging slots 40 in a slide-plate 41 carried b a slide-bar 42, which bar is confined to s ide lengthwise on the bar 20 by screws43 and 44 which pass downwardly through the slot 23 in .bar 20 and are threaded into the slide-bar 42. The slide-bar 42 is formed with the usual buttori-centerin stop 45, and is urged forward by a coil spring 46 secured to the screw 48 and to a pin 47 on a bracket 48 mounted on bar 20. As the slidebar moves forwardly it causes the jaws of levers 37 to close on a button inserted therebetween. Secured to the under side of each lever 37 is a springlate 49 which extends forwardly beneath t e button to press the latter upwardly and hold it against vertical movement. A screw 50 projects from the bracket 48 and a link 51 extends between said screw and a collar 52 secured on the resser-bar 53. A presser-lifting lever 53 is adapted to engage a lug on the collar 52 to lift the presser-bar and its connected button-clamp. V The slide-bar 42 is moved rearwardly to open the button-clamping levers 37 by a slotted finger-lever 54 fulcrumed on the bar 20 and bearing against the screw 43, said lever being held in adjusted position by a set-screw 55 passing through the slot in the lever and threaded into the plate 20.

Between the ears 13 an arm 56 is attached to the rock-shaft 14 by a collar and setscrew (Figs. 4 and 5). A slide-block 57 is mounted on the arm 56, and is moved in either direction by a thumb-screw 58 rotatably secured in a lug 59 on the arm 56 and threaded into said block. A link 60 is pivotally secured at one end to the arm 56 and block 57 by abolt 61 which passes loosely through the block and through a segmental secured at 60 to a rocker-arm 65 fulcrumed on the bracket 12 at 66. The rocker-arm carries a cam-roller WhlCl'l travels in a groove on a cam 67, which. latter has a geared'one to-two connection with the main-shaft 9.

- The overhanging arm 2 has a projecting lug 68 at itsrear end to which is secured a hinge member comprising a sheet-metal disk 69 having an ofiset arm 70 which has a downwardly bent front portion 71. A similar disk 72 has an offset arm 73 having a downwardly bent rear portion 74. The bent portions 71 and 74 are pivotally connected by a screw 75. A curved bracketarm 76 is secured to the disk 72 and has at its free end an enlargement 77 with a hub 78, in which is secured by a 'set-screw 79 a spool-pin 80, to the other end of which is secured a spool retaining disk 81. When not in use or in shipping the spool-holder may be readil turned down out of the way, as shown in otted lines in Fig. 1.

When sewing a two-hole button the wedgeshaped part 29 is advanced .until it is in contact with both the stop-pins 28, which looks the button-positioning means against lengthwise shifting, The work having been placed in position and the machine started, the cam 67 on the main-shaft operates through the connections 65, 60, 56 to rock the shaft 14, which oscillates or jogs the entire work-holder to present first one and then the other of the holes in the button to the needle. In the case of a fourhole button the part 29 is retracted until when the lever 24 is moved against one of the stop-pins 28 a pair of holes in the hutton are in alignment with the needle. After sufficient stitches have been laid in this pair of holes by the jogging movement of the work-holder, the lever 24 is moved against the other stop-pin 28, thereby shifting the neciprocatory button-positioning means to bring the other pair of holes into stitching relation with the needle. By means of the thumb-screw 58 the oscillatory or joggsng movement; of the work-holder and its utton-positioning means may be varied to suit different spaclngs of the holes in the buttons, and due to the fact that the segmental slot 62 has as its center the pivotal point of the link 60, the adjustment is self-centering, that is, in all adjustments the needle is. midway between the extremes of oscillation. By means of thethumb-screw 34 the longitudinal shifting movement of the buttonpositioning means may also be varied for difi'erent spacings of the holes in the buttons, and due to the symmetrical disposition of thelever 24. and its wedge-shaped plate 29 with respect to the stop-pins 28, this adjustment is also self-centering. By making the support for the work-holder independent of the cloth-plate and disposing it outside of the periphery of said plate, access to the mechanism below the clothlate may be readily had by merely removing the screws securing the plate and, sllding the latter to one side.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinisz- 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, a frame including a base and an overhang- 'ing bracket-arm rising therefrom, a clothplate supported by said base and covering the same,- stitch-forming mechanism incorporated in said frame and including a reciprocating needle and complemental looptaking means supported at opposite sides of said cloth-plate, and an oscillatory workholder including button-positioning means carried by said base and mounted thereon below and independently of said cloth-plate and positioned mainly above the plane of the latter, whereby the cloth-plate may be removed without dismounting the work holder.

2. In a sewing machine, in combination, a frame including a base and an overhanging bracket-arm rising th'erefrom, a clothplate supported by said base and covering.

the same, stitch-forming mechanism incorporated in said frame and including a reciprocating needle and complemental looptaking means supported at opposite sides of said cloth-plate, anoscillatory workholder including button-positioning means pivotally carried by said base and mounted thereon below and independently of said cloth-plate and positioned mainly above the plane of the latter, and operating mechanism for the work-holder disposed entirely below said cloth-plate.

3. In a sewing machine, a cloth-plate, stitch-forming mechanism on opposite sides thereof, a work-holder including button-positioning means, a sup ort therefor independent of said cloth-p ate, means for jog-' ging said support and work-holder, means carried by said work-holder for longitudinally shifting said button positioning means, and means carried by the latter for limiting said shifting movement.

4. In a button sewing machine, a clothplate, stitch-forming mechanism on opposite sides thereof, a work-holder including button-positioning means, a support therefor independent of said cloth-plate, means for jogging said work-holder, means for longitudinally shifting said button-positioning means, and means carried by said shifting means and the button-positioning means for variably limiting the longitudinal movement of the latter.

5. In a sewing machine, a base, a removable cloth-plate covering the base, stitchforming means on opposite sides of said plate, a work-holder independent of said plate, and means secured to the base below the cloth-plate and located outside of the periphery of said plate for supporting and actuating said work-holder.

6. In a button sewing attachment for sewing machines, a support, adjustable means for jogging said support, a member pivotally mounted on said support, buttonpositioning means carried by said member, a lever for shifting said button-positioning means, fixed stops therefor, and unitary means carried by the lever and cooperating with the stops for varying the throw of said lever in either direction.

7; In a button sewing machine, buttonpositioning means, a lever for shifting the same, and means for variably limiting the throw of said lever, comprising stops and dependently of said plate, a work-holder carried by said shaft, a slotted arm fixed to sald shaft, a link having a projection e11- tering said slot, means for actuating said link, and means mounted on said arm for varying the location of said projection in said slot;

10. In a button sewing machine, stitchforming mechanism including a needle, a work-holder including button-positioning means a lever carried by said work-holder adapted for longitudinally shifting said button-positioning means in opposite directions 136 and coacting means carried by said lever and the button-positioning means for variably limiting the movements of the latter.

11. In a button sewing machine, stitchforming mechanism including a needle, manual means for shifting a button in opposite directionsin a path symmetrically disposed with respect to said needle,-and an adjustable element carried by said first means for varying the length of said path while maintaining the path in symmetrical relation to said needle.

12. In a button sewing machine, a clothplate, stitchrforming mechanism disposed on opposite sides thereof, a rock-shaft disposed outside the periphery of said plate,

a work-holder including button-positioning means carried by said rock-shaft above the cloth-plate, means carried by the workholder for shifting said button-positioning means, means below the cloth-plate for oscillating said shaft and its supported workholder, and means carried by said shaft for varyin the degree of oscillation.

18. fn a button sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a work-holder, automatic means for relatively jogging the stitchforming mechanism and workholder laterally of the needle to sew through two holes of a four-hole button, and manually operated means for producing a predetermined shift of the workeholder transversely of the direction of said relative jogging movements, said manually operated means embodying a single adjustable device for limiting such shift in either direction while maintaining it symmetrical with respect to the needle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM L. BARRON. 

